Monday, February 1, 2016

With the temperatures taking a bit of plunge finally this winter season, cabin fever has been kicking in at our household. This mama isn't wanting to get outside much, but the cooped up kiddos are starting lose their cool. Thankfully, we have lots of indoor options of get out and burn a little of that energy off.

One of our favorite places to keep in the cabin fever avoidance rotation is just a short 30 min north of us (think quick car nap on the way up and back = score!) in Carmel - the Urban Chalkboard. Hoping one of these days a brilliant mama will take it upon herself to open one of these great concepts on our side of town, but in the meantime we don't mind the short jaunt on 465 it takes to get there. Well worth the admission cost and the drive.

What makes Urban Chalkboard so wonderful is the staff, the food, the size of the facility, and the many enrichment activities. From the train table to the dress up corner, an area for littles under 18 months, a reading nook under a tree, a playhouse and kitchen and tubes, balls, dinosaurs and more - there is something for every toddler taste. The layout makes it easy for you to sip your coffee (sooo good) and keep an eye on your kiddos while the amazing staff helps -- giving any tired mama the much needed moment to sit and breathe for a moment.

There is even great programming included from sensory play to baby raves complete with disco lights, bubbles, glow sticks and awesome music!

Matt and I pretty successfully wrote our 2014 Christmas cards out on a visit to the Urban Chalkboard - it worked out well!

Monday, November 30, 2015

If you know me, you know that one thing I love to do is plan my baby's birthday parties. Lots of crafts and DIY goodness to make them budget friendly of course - but so fun to plan and watch as their little eyes get big at the decorations, cake, and friends and family as they come in the door.

Ainsley has an especially soft spot for puppies and kitties. Wherever we go she always manages to spot a dog and delightfully screams "puppy!!" and always wants to try to give it a pat or hug. And kitties are no different - she will brave scratches just to get a good squeeze of lovings.

Thankful for the many friends and family who braved Saturday's crazy pop-up snow shower and celebrate our little lady's special day with us.

We enjoyed bowls of dog food (Reese Cup cereal) and Meow Mix (colored gold fish crackers), along with platters of cheese complete with toy mouse, and a heaping bowl of delicious Swedish Fish ($1 at Target!), Pink Velvet Cupcakes (Kroger), homemade buttercream and cream cheese icing, a kitty cat cake made from two bread loaf pans of cherry chip (Kroger) cake mix, Strawberry Ice cream (Aldi), pink lemonade and "gold" punch - this one was a complete accident that it turned out gold - pineapple juice, a bottle of sprite, a tub of rainbow sherbert. and ice cubes. "Paw" tato chips (Aldi) and "Pup"eroni pizza - homemade but the pepperoni and cheese and flour for the dough was from Aldi.

Ideas were all a mix of Pinterest inspirations and also inspired as they came to me walking through the aisles at Hobby Lobby.

Paw print balloons, gold glitter paper for the food tags and signs, black puppy and kitty cut outs for the garland and cupcake toppers, pink paper doilies, gold ribbon, gold striped napkins, pink paper plates, white length of chenille for kitty tails all found at Hobby Lobby.Large glass jars were found at Walmart.White doilies I had on hand but were from United Art & Education.Clear party cups I usually find at Party City, but this time I picked up from Target - will be getting them from Party City again as these did not hold up and cracked way too easily.

Saturday, November 28, 2015

Nearly a pinterest fail since I was missing a bunch of the necessary elements - didn't have a neck, head and couldn't find candy corn for a beak. We traveled up north with a cheese ball, stick pretzels, football pretzels and a bag of candy eyes and hope that we'd find the rest.

Along the way, we found all we needed thankfully! Some leftover trail mix at my mom's had the candy corn! And in her cupboard a jar of Nutella worked just was well as icing for the "glue" to hold on the eyes and anchor the head. And we ended up using a bumpy ferrero rocher chocolate head instead of a whopper - I think this was more authentic! ;) -- just hollowed out a bit of a hole into the chocolate, filled with a bit of Nutella and jammed it on the neck. Which of course I didn't have a slim jim but managed to cut down a piece of beef jerky stick to work just the same!

And thankfully Great Grandma always has a well-stocked supply of red fruit roll-ups for the turkey gobbler. :)

Well, looks like I waited too long this year to make our Breakfast with Santa reservations with Oak Hill Mansion. We made it last year and were so impressed and had wanted to do it again. We put our names on the wait list in case something comes open, but in the meantime am working up a plan B and thought I would share the ideas as I came across them. Thankfully there is so much we can still do to make some magical memories - even if it wasn't the first couple of things that came to mind. (Had also looked into the French Lick Polar Express which is also sold out by now).

Thankfully I have a long bucket list of holiday experiences I want to do with my kiddos - and thankfully that list keeps growing as I find out more amazing events going on right under my nose.

1. Breakfast with Santa at the Children's Museum - There is always breakfast with Santa at the Children's museum, with Christmas crafts, including decorating a big bag to ride down the holiday slide. Breakfast and a chance to sit and visit and take a picture with Santa and a chance to ride down the slide a time to two early before the big lines start to form for the day.

2. Tuesday, December 2 Starting at 6:30PM: Santa by appointment at Toodleydoo ToysWe visited and fell in love with Toodleydoo Toys last year and their Santa is ADORABLE. Forget crowds and long lines at the mall to visit a wore out Santa -- instead make a date to visit Toodleydoo Toys, be amazed at their toy selection, and walk down the beautifully decorated downtown Franklin streets. (Insiders Hint: take time to make a quick visit to neighboring Anna's Boutique for Mom - their control top fleece lined leggings are the best!)$18 a child (includes craft, and gift bag) & $5 per additional child

3. Santa at Home Depot in Greenwood off 135: This is a new-to-us one we may try out this year. We love taking part in their free Kids Workshops building everything from bird houses to piggy banks on scheduled Saturday mornings at 9:00 AM. Matt took the kiddos this morning and picked up this flyer while he was there.

4. Tea with Mrs. Claus at Sassafras Tea Room in Greenwood: We have been to their Mother's Day Brunch and would love to do this with the girls if we have time to squeeze it in.Monday, December 14, 4PM: $18 Includes gifts for the kids, desserts, tea, tax, and gratuity.

5. Cincideutsch Christkindlmarkt in Cincinnati: This is more of a day trip but would love to go to something like this! Touted as the most authentic German Christmas Market in Cincinnati features Glühwein (hot spiced wine) and hot chocolate, Christian Moerlein beer, traditional baked goods, holiday gifts and decorations, and live entertainment! First three weekends in December.Cincideutsch Facebook Page

6. Jingle Rails at Eiteljorg Museum: Delaney has always loved trains and this one has been on our list for a few years now. With our Oak Hill Mansion mishap, this one is now on top of my list. A visit to the Jingle Rails Exhibit and maybe a short carriage ride around downtown with Yellow Rose Carriage off Monument Circle (after dropping off a letter to Santa's Mailbox and grabbing some hot chocolate at either Starbucks or Southbend Chocolate Company of course!)November 21 - January 18, 2015 Admission: $12 adults. $6 youth. Kids 4 & under are FREE.Mon–Sat: 10AM– 5PM. Sunday: 12noon –5PM

*Children's Museum Membership admission privileges may not be applied to this event*

Cost includes admission ticket (at a discounted rate), a buffet, drinks, and dessert. Make sure to drop off a non-perishable food item for IUPUI's Paws Food Pantry at The Central Indiana Alumni Chapter table.

10. Ornament Making at Johnson County Libraries: Putting up tree is always so nostalgic, looking at all the ornaments we have bought, received and made throughout the years is always so sweet. To add to our 2015 collection we love to visit the library on their ornament craft days.

Monday, November 23, 2015

Life with two little ones, oh my - it is for real! Oy vey - notice how I have had next to no blog post? You've seen the scrambled egg meme on Facebook, right?? Where there is an egg and it says this is your brain without kids and the next is an imploded egg with the all too accurate description that this is now your brain with two kids - ha! I know people with multiples can blog -- and blog well -- but apparently on my ever lengthening list of priorities blogging took a temporary back burner position.

Lots of things have occurred in the course of a year since my off and on again hiatus, becoming a work at home mom - working with an amazing team and company - so nice to be able to say that and mean it, taking more freelance design and photography work, and pursuing a Young Living business as well as trying to find a balance work at home life with two littles. Just a little over a year I can finally say I can see a light at the end of the tunnel - or more importantly that I feel like I am officially on the other side.

Thursday, November 19, 2015

It's that time again! Why did I have my babies back to back October and November?? I have spent the better half of this week in my car or in the store, lugging tiny, slightly grouchy children in and out of car seats and into shopping carts and playing a scary type of russian roulette in each store as the nearly two year old insists on walking like big sister and not sitting in the seat. All while trying to keep track of what is on my list and what I need for the upcoming second birthday bash! How can it be - TWO?! Going by much too fast! :(

For Ainsley we knew a "Puppy and Kitty" theme was central - her love for animals is huge - but the details did not all come together until I was shepherding the soon to be birthday girl down the aisles and came across gold sparkly gift bags and scrapbook paper which thrown into the cart looked ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE next to the soft pink plates I already had grabbed. Pink and gold -- gorgeous! Perfect for a pretty kitty-loving princess on her second birthday! Balances out the kitty and puppy craziness with a touch of elegance. Hobby Lobby to the rescue! Like an in-person pinterest! Pinterest has its time and place - but it when it comes to getting it done you have to find the actual items you need in real life.

My typical event planning circuit is not complete with at least one trip to the local Joann Fabric for all things Wilton (cupcake liners, all colors of melting wafers, and more!), Hobby Lobby and Michael's, Aldi's, Party City and Target. Too bad everything can't be found in one store - but alas it is cannot be done - ever.